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An Athlete Pays Forward Gifts from the Past

This year in Kona, a 12-time IRONMAN from Colorado will pay homage to the finish line moment that inspired him to try the sport.

by Carrie Barrett

One of the many people inspired by Julie Moss’s 1982 finish line crawl was a man in his early 20s. Now, over 30 years and 12 IRONMAN races later, Bill Martin is heading to Kona himself as one of this year’s Legacy athletes.

"Legacy" is defined as a gift handed down from the past. Though it’s hard to fathom how watching an athlete crawl to the finish could be considered a gift, it was to Martin: It ignited an interest and passion that started with his first half-Ironman in 1983 and continues to this day.

Hailing from Grand Junction, Colo., Martin feels lucky and blessed for the chance to create his own legacy on the Big Island this year. "I had resigned myself to the fact that I was probably never going to get to Kona unless I was still doing this in my 80s," he says. In spite of the odds, his passion for the sport stayed strong.

Marriage, three small children and a demanding career as an anesthesiologist put a dent in Martin’s training in the 1990s. But a move to Colorado in 1999 changed everything. He adjusted his work schedule, and set out on a path to a better quality of life. "I bought a house and a bike at the same time," Martin laughs. He started training and racing again in 2000 and hasn't looked back since.

Looking back at his first full-distance race (in Provo, Utah in 2002), he remembers the swim spooking him. Because of that harrowing experience, he decided to focus on swimming—now his strongest discipline. "I turned a negative experience into a positive one because I wanted to do more of these events," he says.

And that is precisely what he has done for the past 11 years. Martin has two St. George finishes, an IRONMAN Switzerland and four IRONMAN Arizona finishes under his belt, among others. His favorites, however, are IRONMAN Cozumel and Lanzarote. "They're so much more than a race," he says. "Not only are the views breathtaking, but it turns into a party. Entire villages shut down and come out to cheer for the athletes—there's absolutely nothing like it."

There’s something bigger than the physical challenge and health benefits Martin loves so much about the sport, however: "I hate the way we often limit ourselves in life," he says, adding that he sees a lot of that attitude in his practice and wants to lead by example. His biggest joy is bringing people to triathlon and helping people reach their "impossible" goals.

Martin says he couldn't survive on the journey to Kona without his family, who meet up with him during training rides, as well as attend races to cheer him on. If he has a big training day, his wife supports him on the work front. And, just seven weeks after Kona, his 18-year-old daughter will be fulfilling her own childhood dream to do an IRONMAN: the two are planning to race IRONMAN Cozumel together.

Of course, the whole Martin family will be in Kona to witness a dream born in 1982 come true. His goals for the day? "Soak it all in, enjoy the day and never give up"—words that will become his own gift to Hawaii’s next generation of champions.

Carrie Barrett is a USAT Level 1 Certified Coach and freelance writer based in Austin, Texas.